CLERMONT, FL- On a day that commenced with weather more reminiscent of New Jersey than the Sunshine State, the Georgian Court University softball team stole two victories on the club's first day of competition in the annual National Training Center games.


The Lions (2-2) swiped 11 stolen bases on the day, which included a defeat of Southern New Hampshire University, 7-5, before ending the day with an 11-5 mark vs. Urbana University (OH), including eight steals in the nightcap against the Blue Knights.


GAME ONE

With 52-degree temperatures and winds blowing at close to a 40 MPH clip, Southern New Hampshire proved that the elements were no factor as the Penmen plated two runs in the first and two more in the second frame to take a 4-0 lead off GCU starting pitcher Brooke Hull.

Georgian Court cut SNHU's lead in half in the top of the third inning when LF Alyssa Paradiso (walk) and CF Dara Schroeder (infield single) scored the Lions' first two runs, both on seperate throwing errors by Penmen catcher Cristy Jenkins (Jr.-Hudson, MA). 

The Lions took the upper hand for good with three more unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning, making the score 5-4. Paradiso (infield single), SS Ashlynn Thompson (hit-by-pitch) and Schroeder (infield single) scored on a fielding error and a throwing error from SNHU third baseman  Morgan Farmer (So.-Kingston, NH). 

A pair of ribbie singles from 2B Rachel Ruch in the sixth and seventh frames sealed the first victory of the year and of  the Mckewn Dannelly era for the Lions.


Hull (1-1) earned the win in the circle for Georgian Court and permitted five runs (four earned) on 12 hits in the complete-game effort. She also struck out four Penmen.


Dolores Mattice (So.-Schenectady, NY) was the tough-luck loser for SNHU as she allowed only one earned run (six unearned) on five Penmen miscues, while permitting eight hits and five walks. She also struck out eight Lions.

Schroeder (3 R), Ruch (2 RBI), and Hull enjoyed multi-hit efforts at the dish.


GAME TWO

Georgian Court, again serving as the visiting team, snared a 2-0 lead in top of the first on another Ruch RBI single and a run-inducing double off the bat of 2B Kelsey Cutler. Urbana University immediately evened the score in the bottom half of the frame, courtesy of two-run single from 3B Ashley Skinner (So.-Beavercreek, OH).

A two-run double from catcher Megan Risner (Sr.-Urbana, OH) gave the Blue Knights a 4-2 lead after two innings of play. The Lions, however, reclaimed the advantage and then some with seven unanswered runs of their own to take what would be an insurmountable 9-4 lead.
 
 For the second straight contest, the Lions benefited greatly from their opponent's suspect defense as the Urbana diamond yielded six fielding miscues. GCU wreaked havoc on the basepaths with its eight stolen bases in the game, including four from Ruch and two from Schroeder.

Illiana Teran (1-1) earned her first victory as a Lion as she went the distance (7.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 K) in the effort. Urbana's Chelsea Mead (Jr.-Medway, OH) wore the loss for the Blue Knights (4.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K).

RF Selina Santillo (3-for-4, R, 2 RBI, SB), Schroeder (2-for-4, 3 R), and Paradiso (2-for-3, 3B, R) served as the offensive stars for the Lions.

GCU returns to action Tuesday afternoon with a 1:00 PM contest vs. Bemidji State University (MN), followed by a ballgame against Assumption College (MA) at 3:00 PM.